WATER SAFETY:IRISH WATER Safety (IWS) has reiterated its warning about the dangers of walking or playing on frozen lakes, ponds and canals.
IWS chief executive Lieut Cdr John Leech said his organisation had reports of quad bikes and motorbikes being used on frozen inland waterways. There were also reports of people walking and children playing on a Monaghan lake where two teenage girls died in an ice-related incident nine years ago.
Louise McAloon (12) and her cousin Veronica McAloon (10) drowned on Hollywood Lake, Co Monaghan, in January 2001, when they were trying to skate.
Lieut Cdr Leech advised parents to supervise children to ensure they did not play on ice. Ice thickness has to be 15cm for walking or skating alone, 20cm for skating parties or games and 25cm for snowmobiles. Clear blue ice is the strongest, white opaque or snow ice is only half as strong, and grey ice is unsafe, he said.
The IWS warned against rescuing a person or a pet from ice. Call emergency services on 999 or 112, giving a precise location.